Revealed in Makkah, Surah An-Naba (The Tidings) addresses the disbelievers' skepticism regarding the Day of Resurrection, referred to as the 'Great News.' It points to natural signs—the earth as a bed, the mountains as pegs, sleep, and rain—as proofs of divine power, concluding with a terrifying depiction of the trumpet sounding and the regret of the disbelievers wishing they were dust.
Transliteration
AAamma yatasaaloona
Translation
What are they asking one another about
Opens with a dramatic rhetorical question capturing the whispered conversations of Meccan polytheists inquiring skeptically about the Prophet's teachings.
Transliteration
AAani alnnabai alAAatheemi
Translation
About the Great Event
Identifies the subject of their debate: 'The Great News'—the monumental reality of bodily resurrection, divine accounting, and the afterlife.
Transliteration
Allathee hum feehi mukhtalifoona
Translation
About which they disagree
Highlights the skepticism and spiritual confusion of the deniers regarding the reality of life after death.
Transliteration
Kalla sayaAAlamoona
Translation
Surely, they will find out
Transliteration
Thumma kalla sayaAAlamoona
Translation
Most certainly, they will find out
Transliteration
Alam najAAali alarda mihadan
Translation
Did We not make the earth a cradle
Transliteration
Waaljibala awtadan
Translation
And the mountains pegs
A profound geological insight: describes mountain ranges as 'pegs' ('Awtada'). Modern geophysical geology confirms that mountains possess deep subterranean roots extending downward into the Earth's mantle—much like tent pegs or iceberg foundations—playing an essential role in stabilizing continental plates (isostasy).
Transliteration
Wakhalaqnakum azwajan
Translation
And created you in pairs
Transliteration
WajaAAalna nawmakum subatan
Translation
And made your sleep for rest
Observes the neurobiology of sleep: God designed human sleep to be 'Subat'—a biological pause that disconnects active conscious sensory processing to regenerate muscles, detoxify brain tissues, and restore emotional equilibrium.
Transliteration
WajaAAalna allayla libasan
Translation
And made the night a cover
Transliteration
WajaAAalna alnnahara maAAashan
Translation
And made the day for livelihood
Transliteration
Wabanayna fawqakum sabAAan shidadan
Translation
And built above you seven strong ones
Transliteration
WajaAAalna sirajan wahhajan
Translation
And placed a blazing lamp
Describes the physical sun as a 'blazing lamp' ('Sirajan Wahhaja')—an astronomical term denoting an independent radiant source that generates its own immense light and thermonuclear heat, contrasted with the moon which merely reflects light.
Transliteration
Waanzalna mina almuAAsirati maan thajjajan
Translation
And brought down from the clouds pouring water
Details the meteorological water cycle: rainclouds releasing torrential downpours ('Ma'an Thajjaja') to nourish vast carpets of diverse agricultural vegetation and lush interlocking orchards.
Transliteration
Linukhrija bihi habban wanabatan
Translation
To produce with it grains and vegetation
Transliteration
Wajannatin alfafan
Translation
And luxuriant gardens
Transliteration
Inna yawma alfasli kana meeqatan
Translation
The Day of Sorting has been appointed
Designates the Day of Judgment as 'Yawm al-Fasl' (The Day of Sorting Out)—the decisive cosmic courtroom where truth is permanently disentangled from falsehood, oppressors from victims, and righteousness from hypocrisy.
Transliteration
Yawma yunfakhu fee alssoori fatatoona afwajan
Translation
The Day when the Trumpet is blown, and you will come in droves
Transliteration
Wafutihati alssamao fakanat abwaban
Translation
And the sky is opened up, and becomes gateways
Transliteration
Wasuyyirati aljibalu fakanat saraban
Translation
And the mountains are set in motion, and become a mirage
Transliteration
Inna jahannama kanat mirsadan
Translation
Hell is lying in ambush
Transliteration
Lilttagheena maaban
Translation
For the oppressors, a destination
Transliteration
Labitheena feeha ahqaban
Translation
Where they will remain for eons
Transliteration
La yathooqoona feeha bardan wala sharaban
Translation
They will taste therein neither coolness, nor drink
Transliteration
Illa hameeman waghassaqan
Translation
Except boiling water, and freezing hail
Transliteration
Jazaan wifaqan
Translation
A fitting requital
Transliteration
Innahum kanoo la yarjoona hisaban
Translation
For they were not anticipating any reckoning
Transliteration
Wakaththaboo biayatina kiththaban
Translation
And they denied Our signs utterly
Transliteration
Wakulla shayin ahsaynahu kitaban
Translation
But We have enumerated everything in writing
Transliteration
Fathooqoo falan nazeedakum illa AAathaban
Translation
So taste! We will increase you only in suffering
Transliteration
Inna lilmuttaqeena mafazan
Translation
But for the righteous there is triumph
Transliteration
Hadaiqa waaAAnaban
Translation
Gardens and vineyards
Transliteration
WakawaAAiba atraban
Translation
And splendid spouses, well matched
Transliteration
Wakasan dihaqan
Translation
And delicious drinks
Transliteration
La yasmaAAoona feeha laghwan wala kiththaban
Translation
They will hear therein neither gossip, nor lies
Transliteration
Jazaan min rabbika AAataan hisaban
Translation
A reward from your Lord, a fitting gift
Transliteration
Rabbi alssamawati waalardi wama baynahuma alrrahmani la yamlikoona minhu khitaban
Translation
Lord of the heavens and the earth, and everything between them—The Most Merciful—none can argue with Him
Transliteration
Yawma yaqoomu alrroohu waalmalaikatu saffan la yatakallamoona illa man athina lahu alrrahmanu waqala sawaban
Translation
On the Day when the Spirit and the angels stand in row. They will not speak, unless it be one permitted by the Most Merciful, and he will say what is right
Describes the solemn cosmic majesty of the Day of Judgment: Archangel Gabriel ('Ar-Ruh') and infinite ranks of angels stand in disciplined silence before the Almighty; no soul dares to utter a word except those granted divine permission, and they will speak only absolute truth.
Transliteration
Thalika alyawmu alhaqqu faman shaa ittakhatha ila rabbihi maaban
Translation
That is the Day of Reality. So whoever wills, let him take a way back to his Lord
Transliteration
Inna antharnakum AAathaban qareeban yawma yanthuru almaro ma qaddamat yadahu wayaqoolu alkafiru ya laytanee kuntu turaban
Translation
We have warned you of a near punishment—the Day when a person will observe what his hands have produced, and the faithless will say, “O, I wish I were dust.”
Captures the tragic despair of the unrepentant sinner: seeing all his recorded deeds laid bare, he cries in anguish: 'Oh, I wish that I were mere dust!' ('Ya laytani kuntu turaba')—traditional commentaries note this cry occurs when animals, having settled their accounts, are turned to harmless dust, prompting the condemned human to wish he had never been created with accountable consciousness.